The Message of Aquaria:
The Significance and Mission of the Aquarian Age
by F. Homer Curtiss and Harriette Curtiss
F. Homer Curtiss and Harriette Curtiss
Harriette Augusta Curtiss, co-founder of The Order of Christian Mystics and later the Universal Religious Foundation, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1856. Her parents were John Horace Brown, organizer of the Pennsylvania State Teachers' Association and Emma Brightly Brown. Curtiss received a cultured education and developed into a talented musician and actress. After starring in a number of amateur theatrical productions she had the opportunity to become a professional, but her mother dissuaded her from doing so. She therefore put her writing talents to use for many years, authoring a column for the Philadelphia Inquirer under the pen name "The Bachelor Girl."
As the years passed, Curtiss found herself to be a gifted clairvoyant, developing a direct contact with that ascended teacher known as Madame Blavatsky and eventually launched a career in the realm of mysticism.
In 1907 she married Dr Frank Homer Curtiss, and together they began working as occult teachers and writers. In the year of their marriage they founded The Order of the 15, which in 1908 became known as The Order of Christian Mystics. Harriette, who became known within the order as Rahmea, assumed the role of teacher, and her husband took the position of secretary (and was known by his order name of Pyrahmos). They worked together to prepare material for publication, though Harriette was the primary author. Throughout the rest of her life, she issued monthly lessons for students.
The Curtisses produced more than 27 books and publications.
The Message of Aquaria. The Significance and Mission of the Aquarian Age
“Truth is eternal and everlasting. That which was, is, and forever shall be; manifest variously as it may. “
Not a sequel to The Voice of Isis, but rather a response to the urgent call for further and more advanced instruction concerning the great unrest in world conditions, and their solution. Also contains a reasonable and scientific explanation of how and when and to whom the Son of Man will appear at the Second Coming.
The only satisfactory exposition of this subject. As the new Aquarian Age, so long foretold, dawns for humanity, the outbreathing of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, again speaks, and in no uncertain tones, to all children who recognize Her, and proclaims to them:
"Behold, it is I. Be not afraid!" at the ushering in of this Aquarian Age She comes under the name of Aquaria.
And, true to the promise of Jesus, She brings to our remembrance all that He has told us concerning the New Dispensation when there "Shall appear the sign of the Son of Man (the sign of Aquarius) in heaven."
“One of the mightiest of truths is the mystical meaning of that which is inculcated in the universal teachings as to the Divine Mother.”
In this article I cover PARTS in THE CURTISS BOOK THE MESSAGE OF AQUARIA
- PREFACE
CHAPTER 1 / THE MYSTIC LIFE
- CHAPTER 2 / THE SIGN OF AQUARIUS
- CHAPTER 3 / ARE THESE THE LAST DAYS?
preface
Truth is eternal and everlasting. That which was, is, and forever shall be; manifest variously as it may.
One of the mightiest of truths is the mystical meaning of that which is inculcated in the universal teachings as to the Divine Mother.
In every Age, in many languages and religions, under many names and symbols, does the loving Mother speak to Her children.
In ancient Egypt as Isis the feminine aspect of the Godhead, the Productive Principle, the Bringer Forth, both in Nature and in man She bade Her children gather together and prepare for the manifestation of Her child as Horus.
In that Age the Divine Mother was depicted as gathering together and restoring to oneness, but burying (making esoteric) the severed members of the body of Osiris - the Egyptian term for the great Creative Aspect of the Godhead which manifests to the Cosmos as the Cosmic Cause, to our universe as the Sun and to humanity as God, the Father of all-or that united body of Universal Truth given to all mankind, the Grand Plan of Manifestation and Redemption.
The body has indeed been broken in many pieces by making throughout the ages, and only the understanding Love of the Divine Mother can gather the pieces together and reveal them as one, the eternal living Body of Truth.
In Jerusalem the Son of the Divine Mother for the Piscean Age, in bidding farewell to all His faithful followers, tells them that the Divine Mother shall remain with them “even unto the end” (of the dispensation) as the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, to teach them all things and bring all things to their remembrance; for the esoteric Truth has always remained with the Faithful, altho hidden under exoteric creeds and dogmas.
But the Age has now dawned why that which was hidden shall be revealed and this buried Body must be uncovered and restored to life and manifest esoterically in the hearts and lives of mankind.
This is but another call for the ingathering of all who love the Father-Mother-God, that there be but one universal sheepfold and one Shepherd.
As the new Aquarian Age, so long foretold, dawns for humanity, the out breathing of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, again speaks, and in no uncertain tones, to all children who recognize Her, and proclaims to them:
“Behold, it is I. Be not afraid!”
At the ushering in of this Aquarian Age She comes under the name of Aquaria.
And, true to the promise of Jesus, She brings to our remembrance all that He has told us concerning the New Dispensation when there
“Shall appear the sign of the Son of Man (the sign Aquarius) in heaven.”
Lest any there be of Her children who fail to recognize Her
as the Divine Mother or who fail to see the sings and wonders brought forth by the outpouring of Her Divine Love, as the gates of the New Age swing open, these lessons-which have been given through those who know whence they come-are sent forth to all her children for the comfort and instruction and to announce the re-appearance and prepare for the recognition and welcome of Her Son.
May the followers of Universal Truth in every land and climate
gather together at Her knee, feel the warmth of Her Mother-love and the protection of Her arms around them and listen receptively and understandingly to Her momentous words, knowing that they be no new words, no only cunningly contrived conceptions of the mind of man, but age-old Universal Truths reiterated again and again in every Age, in language suited to the time and the people to whom they are given, and now again brought to the remembrance of all who through Love can recognize their truth and who are ready to respond to Her call.
Thus does The Message of Aquaria naturally follow the Voice of Isis.
- September 15, 1921
CHAPTER 1 / THE MYSTIC LIFE
“Your life is hid with Christ in God…where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ in all, and in all”
Collossians, iii, 3, 11.
“O, Thou Divine Reality! Thou who fullest all heavens and all earths! Thou only art God. Thou only art One in all blessedness, glory and honor, forevermore.”
Teachings of the Order
After the days of horror through which the peoples of the Earth have been and still are passing there is already arising from out the stricken nations, and also from these others who have sickened at the sight, an insistent cry for new ideals of life.
The old conceptions have been weighted in the balance and found lamentably wanting, hence the eyes of millions are looking for something new, perhaps for signs and wonders, that will give them some vital ideal, some new conception of life to guide them during the new dispensation now dawning.
The mere reputation of the old orthodox conception can no longer satisfy. A hell after death can no longer appall after their mortal eyes have seen a hell on Earth.
No mere promise of a negative heaven of supine and insipid bliss can inspire or comfort after the deeds of heroism and self-sacrifice they have beheld in the days of carnage.
The cry already goes up for a “a new heaven and a new earth” in which righteousness shall dwell, omitting all reference to hell.
One aspect of the Divine Law is that there can be no longing for the ideal born in the human heart that is not a reflection of a Divine Reality which the soul dimly senses as a truth.
Hence there cannot be a Soul-cry or a sincere demand for righteousness, peace and harmony that will not bring its own fulfillment in due season.
Perhaps this universal demand which the hours of recent years have created is the next step in the spiritual unfoldment of the Race. Therefore, those who know where to seek for the answer must be up and doing, ready to spread the glad message of cheer and comfort that is found in a realization of the Mystic Life.
But to convince others we must first prove by experience and expression in our own lives that living the Mystic Life is a practical possibility. For the majority think that mysticism and practical ability are like the opposite ends of a magnet, while in reality they form the central point where both blend.
We must prove to the world that the Mystic Life does bring to the heart and into the life of every devoted follower a new heaven in which dwelleth righteousness, the righteousness of inspiring ideals, noble deeds, great sacrifices and love for Earth’s children, giving him the ability to share this righteousness with others, thus creating new Earth conditions for all who enter into this new realization.
In past ages mankind sought retirement from the world in an effort to create the new heaven within himself, but the modern mystic realizes that to be practical he must seek his heaven in the very midst of the turmoil of life wherever the Great Law has placed him and bring it forth, not only within himself, but within his environment so others may benefit by it.
This is the ideal manifestation of the Mystic Life.
All manifestation comes from the unseen. Everywhere we see the inner molding the outer.
The plan in the mind of the architect determines the size and form of the building. Our ideas, as they seek expression, determine our words and acts.
The ambitions of a selfish monarch plunge the world into war, while the ideals of freedom, right and justice inspire millions unselfishly to sacrifice their lives to counteract the results of that selfish ambition.
So must the ideals of the Mystic Life be spread until they inspire millions to manifest peace, love, brotherhood, co-operation and harmony within themselves ere those qualities can manifest among nations; for as our enlightenment increases so does our responsibility for local and world conditions.
The causes (realities) are always mystic and unseen. The objective form is but the manifested aspect of the cause.
That which is manifested in the outer world is but the outer husk, the vehicle through which some inner form of the One Life is seeking expression in this world of matter.
One of the most fundamental and obvious characteristics of the manifested universe is its sentience.
Everywhere, from the amoeba to the solar system, we see both the evidence and the results of a directing consciousness which organizes, controls and directs the activities of the various manifestations toward specific ends. In fact, the physical form limits the expression; for every form of life is far greater than it is able to manifest through its physical vehicle.
The cause back of the acorn is far greater than the acorn or even the tree into which the life-force, in its desire for expression, forces the acorn to expand.
The seed contains the potential tree, but its source is hidden in mystery.
In fact, all life is a manifestation of the Divine Life or Cosmic Christ-force seeking expression that it may complete the cycle of its outgoing and return to its Source. It is this inner pressure for an ever greater and more perfect expression that is the cause back of evolution.
As we see the Mystic Life expressing itself in Nature, according to the Law of Growth, so is it with man.
The Mystic Life is the life of causes; the Inner or Real Life, the life of the Soul; that life whose will to express results in the best outer manifestation the Soul has learned, through experience in matter, to produce, each incarnation being a step toward the goal of perfect expression.
Our Mystic Life is the life of our Higher Self, the Real Man, the life we live in the higher realms, our life in our Father’s home.
Hence the discouragement, loneliness, even disgust for the outer life we are living which sweeps over us at times; for we realize how far short we fall from living our real life and manifesting our Real Self.
It is the source of all our life, even the physical life; for if we do not renew our life by returning to bathe in its Source every few hours through deep sleep, our physical body becomes exhausted and dies, no matter how much food, water, Sun and air it may receive.
If we need to leave the outer world behind and cease to react to its stimuli and seek the Inner Life for the sake of bodily health, how much more should we seek it, through meditation and devotion, for our moral and spiritual health!
We have an outer shell of a life in the world as our casual acquaintances know us and as history might record of us.
Then we have a more inner life, such as our family and close friends know, and finally we have the real Inner or Mystic Life of the Soul, known only to the Father, but which it is our duty to recognize and correlate with or truly live on Earth, even as it is done in heaven.
This is the life of the Soul which is striving to guide and train us to follow its direction until all our outer activities are but an undistorted expression of that Real Self. With the majority this Inner, Mystic Life has not yet been recognized, nor has it found a direct channel for expression.
Hence their Soul-life is but an overshadowing influence which tries as best it can to inspire and guide the outer personality toward harmonious and constructive ends.
At this stage of spiritual unfoldment the majority dwell in the outer senses, in the vibrations of and reactions to the outer world. The urge for satisfaction-which can ultimately be quenched only through union with the Higher Self-the majority endeavor to satisfy through sensation, excitement and the struggle for the attainment of outer things.
They make the acquisition of money their standard and aim in life; money and ever more money, even when they have sufficient for the normal needs of life. They desire more comforts, even luxuries, when they already have ample for a simple, happy life.
They spend their spare time in a rush for pleasure, seeking through sensation to drown the persistent craving for peace, love and harmony.
Peace, however, is not the result of certain outer circumstances, but is an inner state of consciousness.
The tranquility they seek can be found only within; by quieting the outer vibrations of the body and mind and responding to “the peace that passeth understanding,” which is theirs for the seeking.
All this struggle and striving, however, is but the result of the inner Mystic Life pushing outward for fuller expression, so that in the earlier stages of the unfolding inner consciousness the rushing from one outer condition to another or from one teacher to another is but the natural result when the personality fails to listen to their inner guidance.
And it is this blind responding to the stimuli of outer conditions which is the cause of most suffering; for without a recognition of the Inner Guidance man cannot know or follow the Law of Harmony, except as he learns it laboriously and painfully through experience.
Therefore, those who will not listen must be left to learn through experience.
Since the inner urge of the Mystic Life keeps us striving for its expression in one way or another, this chapter is an effort to explain to those who are ready to listen just what they are more or less blindly striving for and how they can attain it; for both the end and the means to its attainment should be known if we are to work effectively and efficiently.
The majority are like a butterfly that fell into a pond.
It struggled tremendously to get out of the abnormal conditions in which it found itself, and it make excellent progress, but being ignorant of the direction of its goal, it was swimming away from the shore!
Just so the majority of mankind are ignorant both of their Source and the goal they are destined to attain, hence all their misdirected striving but exhausts them and takes them farther from the desired attainment or discourages them until they often say, “I cannot believe in anyone or anything.”
Ignorance of the Higher Self and of our final destiny is, therefore, one of the greatest obstacles to spiritual unfoldment.
But this should not be true of those who have been attracted to the teachings of this Order by more than passing curiosity; those who sincerely desire to attain peace, harmony and true satisfaction.
For, as we have said elsewhere; “The only true satisfaction is the response we feel to the force poured out through some form of union with the Divine. The only real satisfaction is experienced in the thrill of oneness that comes when a Ray from the Divine within us finds expression in manifestation on any plane, physical, mental or spiritual, from the thrill that results from an unselfish deed, a kind word or a generous forgiveness, to the ecstasy of conscious union with the Higher Self in the highest Initiation.”
It is a great point to remember that is lies within us to determine which stimuli we will react to, the outer or the inner.
If the finger touches a glowing coal it is quickly snatched away. If something threatens the eye the lids are instantly closed. These reactions to stimuli from without are carried out by the subconscious mind long before we have time to think about what has taken place. The reaction is not mental, but instinctive. We feel hunger and cold and we naturally seek food and shelter.
Here a mental reaction is involved in seeking to satisfy these stimuli for the welfare of the body.
We hear a statement with which we do not agree and our uncontrolled mind reacts with an argument, a dispute or perhaps a blow. A criticism that slights our pride, dignity or self-esteem may cause our uncontrolled emotions to react in anger.
Yet we may listen to so-called spiritual teachings at variance both with common sense and also with those teachings which we have accepted and made our own, and altho the Inner Self sends out strong impressions that such teachings are not true, we may fail to listen or respond to the Inner Self and unthinkingly say, “Are they not beautiful?” especially if they be given by some impressive personality.
In such cases we are reacting almost as blindly as does the body from the hot coal or the danger to the eye.
But we have an Inner or Higher Self to whose stimuli we should learn to react just as readily as we now react to the outer. And the Aspirant who desires to unfold his Real or spiritual nature more rapidly than those who drift through incarnation after incarnation with the slow tide of an evolution gained only through suffering, must rise above the animal plan of instinct by the power of the currents of the Mystic Life.
For there are currents of power which the mystic can call to his aid-Nature’s finer forces-which are just as real and just as vital as are the invisible currents of air, the currents of magnetism, electricity, etc. in the outer life.
He must begin consciously to control his mental and spiritual reactions, so that the Real Self shall enable him to respond with calmness, patience, love and wisdom instead of allowing the response to be determined by the little vanities and prejudices of the personality.
As the effort is seriously made to let the Mystic Life manifest and control our reactions we find that it requires more than an intellectual recognition of its desirability.
We cannot accomplish it through The strength of the personality alone. We must seek and reply upon the power of the Christ within.
Many, many weary Souls see the illusions of the outer life, the vanities, the temptations, the shams, the camouflage-all the long list of instinctive reactions-and crave the real, satisfying Inner Life of tranquility, content and peace in activity, but they have not the strength to resist and overcome the habits of reaction formed before their awakening to the Mystic Life.
Many desire initiation into the mysteries, but no Soul ever passes the Great Initiation in his outer consciousness until he has first found the Mysteries within himself; until he has learned to withdraw his consciousness from reacting to the outer happenings of life and learned to live in close and intimate contact with the Mystic Life in that inner chamber of the Soul where the Christ stands with outstretched arms before the later of the Most High-from which flow the hidden streams of life-crying, “Come unto me and rest in peace.”
Here in this inner shrine must we seek for the power of the Christ that shall enable us to manifest the Mystic Life.
“When thou prays, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door (shut out all vibrations of the outer life) pray to thy Father which is in secret (the Higher Self) and thy Father which teeth in secret (our inner motives) shall reward thee openly.”
That is to say, He will enable us to manifest our inner ideals openly in our outer life.
And this is the only reward the true mystic should expect and the greatest boon that could be given him.
Manifesting the Mystic Life in our outer conditions means a spiritual growth, and all growth and expression involves change.
The physical body changes with the growth of the cells within.
Just so the outer life must change as new spiritual ideals (cells) are built into our spiritual life.
But if the tender sprout clings to the old husk which it has outgrown, or endeavors to carry the husk along with it, the sprout suffers and its growth is hampered or perhaps distorted.
Just so we do suffer when we cling to or continue to depend upon old ideas, outer conditions, physical things or personalities when the great tide of the Mystic Life is sweeping us on into new conditions, into new fields of expression where new lessons and opportunities for usefulness awaits us.
The more we resist the inner current of the Mystic Life the more we suffer, until the Great Law is forced to tear from our bleeding hands the things which retard our unfoldment and which we should have gladly let go long before. If we live the Mystic Life we must not cling to tradition, to precedent, to old forms and dogmas, to old habits of life or thought, not even to old family or friendly ties if they hinder the unfoldment of our Inner Life.
For while we must do our duty and strive to live in peace and harmony with those Souls with whom we find ourselves associated, yet often there comes a time when our association brings to them inharmony and, moreover, calls down abuse and misunderstanding on us and our chosen religion or ideals.
Hence, it is but helping to push them farther away and delay their following of the still small voice which is continually calling to us all, “Come unto me,“ if we remain on intimate terms with such persons and refuse to follow our urge to make a change.
For the Mystic Life is ever an advance in understanding and expression, and it must have room to grow unhampered by things and conditions which our Souls has outgrown.
One mistake, however, which many make who start out to live the Mystic Life is thinking that they must carry nothing of their old life with them. They feel that they whole past life must be disowned and cast into the fires of sacrifice. This is a wrong conception, for often what seems at first sight to be but faults and failings only need readjusting to become strong factors in the new life.
We wisely decide to leave them behind, yet we do not condemn them, crude and imperfect as they may have been. Let this be the attitude of mind with which we prepare to step over the threshold of our old life in the world and enter the new manifestation of the Mystic Life.
Leave behind that which is outgrown, but give thanks for the service it gave, for the lessons it taught.
When we are through with the sorrows of war, the cataclysmic changes of the Earth’s surface and the disasters which may be expected to descend upon humanity, we will begin to realize that there is another and deeper world of consciousness whose changes, altho marked and definite, are nevertheless of quite a different character.
It is this inner world into which our consciousness has been born which is destined to manifest in the New Era of the world as it never did before, throwing all the happenings of the outer world into the proper perspective.
We may expect that ere long, as men mark time, there will sweep over the consciousness of all who are awakened, waiting, eager and ready to receive it, an outpouring of the graciousness of the love of God toward man.
This may not be noticeable at once in the outer world, for there will still be many inharmonious conditions to face, but it will occur, not only in the inner lives of individuals, but also in the inner mystical lives of the nations.
Therefore, all of us who have begun to feel the new life surging through us and desire earnestly to break through the hampering bonds of misconception that separate us from our brother-man, must awaken and pray without ceasing that we all may light within our hearts the Lamp of Truth and Wisdom and be ready to go forth and shed our Light within our own environment.
This Order, with its all-inclusive cosmic philosophy, its devotional exercises and its personal help for each student, is especially prepared to gather in from the highways and byways all who will listen to the call and feed their hungry hearts with the Bread of Life and quench their thirst with the Waters of Life of which those who eat and drink shall hunger and thirst no more.
The secret of the Mystic Life is a realization that the Christ fills us whether His power is recognized and utilized or not; that sleeping or waking, in meditation or when engaged in the daily tasks, His Divine Presence is always with us, close to our heart’s consciousness, like a loving companion to whom we can turn at any time and whose love is always the greatest reality in life.
This is what is meant by being “hid with Christ in God” the Christ has become flesh in us, even as it did in Jesus.
This does not mean that we will never again make a mistake, think a wrong thought or lose our temper, but it does mean that when these things occur our reaction will be at once to fly to our loving Christ for strength to overcome and transmute such feelings and by His love and counsel grow stronger for the experience, just as we love more deeply one whom we have wronged or hurt yet who has forgiven us.
How important it is to learn the path to the little door of the inner shrine within which the Christ dwellers; to understand its power and learn whence it cometh and whither it is bearing us.
For in this sacred shrine of the Mystic Life we find the great Hierophant who gives us the “Lost Word,” who shall touch our foreheads that the Eye of the spirit may open.
His touch it is upon our hearts that makes us feel the great waves of love and compassion which encompass the world, yet which have their ebb and flow within our own hearts.
It is here that we drink of the chalice of the Holy Grail, and here it is that the Christ turns the Water of Life into the Wine of the Spirit.
Let us strive then each one of us to live close to the realities.
Learn how to open the little Door of the Heart.
Watch for the Light that streams from it, even tho opened but a crack.
Let our thoughts recur constantly to the Mystic Life until they wear deep channels through which it can flow to us, as we kneel in mediation before the Heart of Divine Love.
Rest assured that we will never dint hat little door barred or locked, but ever waiting to open to our knock.
When we have entered, there we will find the Christ, the lover and comforter of our Souls, ready to wipe away all tears and fill our hearts, be they ever so sad, with comfort, love and joy; for His love is not of their world, neither can the world take it from us nor bar our way to its shrine.
Determine, therefore, that each day our Souls shall enter that sacred crypt and kneel before the alter and be bathed in the stream of the Mystic Life, as our body is during sleep.
Then some day, when we least expect it, we will see the shrine illumined by the Divine Presence and He will place His ark upon our foreheads and give us the true initiation into the Mysteries which the manifestation of the Mystic Life has prepared us to enter.